Illuminate 2025

CentreStage Rolleston was thrilled to bring Illuminate back for its second year, with competitions held on May 23rd and 24th, 2025. This year marked an exciting milestone with the introduction of our new Speech & Drama syllabus, expanding the event to include 20 brand-new classes.

We were delighted to welcome over 100 individual entries, and had the privilege of awarding 10 trophies, 40 medals, and a total of $550 in prize money across a variety of categories.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to every performer, teacher, supporter, volunteer, and especially our dedicated adjudicators, Georgia Lassen and Elian Pagalilawan, whose expertise and generosity helped create such a positive and inspiring environment.

We can’t wait to welcome you back next year for Illuminate 2026 – see you there! 🌟

Class Winners

Speech & Drama

Under 10 Years Dramatic Extract: Nari Yoon

Under 10 Years Prepared Prose Reading: Nari Yoon

Under 10 Years Prepared Speech: Ena Yoon

Under 10 Years Poetry Test Piece: Ena Yoon

Under 10 Years Poetry Own Selection: Ena Yoon

10-12 Years Prepared Speech: Jody Ye

10-12 Years Prepared Prose Reading: Jody Ye

10-12 Years Dramatic Extract: Jody Ye

10-12 Years Poetry Own Selection: Jody Ye

10-12 Years Poetry Test Piece: Jody Ye

13-15 Years Prepared Prose Reading: Sienna O’Connell

13-15 Years Prepared Speech: Sienna O’Connell

13-15 Years Poetry Own Selection: Sienna O’Connell

13-15 Years Dramatic Extract: Sienna O’Connell

Under 10 Years Speech & Drama Overall Winner: Ena Yoon

10-12 Years Speech & Drama Overall Winner: Jody Ye

13-15 Years Speech & Drama Overall Winner: Sienna O’Connell 

Encouragement Award: Isla Ballantyne

Singing

Under 10 Years Popular Song: Dani Beechey

Under 10 Years Musical Theatre Song: Dani Beechey

Under 10 Years Own Selection: Dani Beechey

Under 10 Years Novice: Keeva Holmes

10-12 Years Popular Song: Carla Ladstaetter

10-12 Years Novice: Mac Simpson & Louisa Thomsen

10-12 Years Musical Theatre Song: Carla Ladstaetter

10-12 Years Own Selection: Mac Simpson

10-12 Years Non-English Language Song: Carla Ladstaetter

13-15 Years Own Selection: Molly Turner

13-15 Years Non-English Language Song: Erik Misnyovszki

13-15 Years Novice: Molly Turner

13-15 Years Musical Theatre Song: Eden Taylor

13-15 Years Popular Song: Molly Turner

12 Years & Under Duet: Evie Machin & Max Walters

15 Years & Under Duet: Eddie Keenan & Eden Taylor

18 Years & Under Duet: Charlie Wood & Tessa de Wit

16-18 Years Non-English Language Song: Zijie Fu

16-18 Years Popular Song: Zijie Fu

16-18 Years Own Selection: Zijie Fu

16-18 Years Musical Theatre Song: Isabel Hawes

Open Musical Theatre Recital: Carla Ladstaetter

Under 10 Years Singing Overall Winner: Dani Beechey

10-12 Years Singing Overall Winner: Carla Ladstaetter

13-15 Years Singing Overall Winner: Erik Misnyovszki

16-18 Years Singing Overall Winner: Zijie Fu

Encouragement Award: Evie Machin